How Dolly Parton Saved My Life: A Novel of the Jelly Jar Sisterhood [Paperback]

Charlotte Connors (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2008

Dolly Parton once said," If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one." In the bustling city of Atlanta, four very different ladies take her advice to heart and open a catering business that will cater to them—successful, independent women who put their families first.

But flouting the traditions and expectations of Southern society turns out to be more complicated than they ever anticipated. Even as the pressure of running a business bonds them together, the realities of managing real life threaten to tear the whole thing apart. As financial woes, personal hurts, and family troubles test the strength of their business and their friendship, they discover that sisterly support and lots of heartfelt prayer just might be the only way to survive.

Full of sass, grit, and good old-fashioned faith, How Dolly Parton Saved My Life is a hilarious and poignant look at friendship with a distinctly Southern flair.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Josephine Vann, a devoted wife, doting mother and former bank exec, starts a catering company in Connors's wholesomely humorous debut. After hiring Daisy, an eccentric pastry chef who lives by the rules Dolly Parton doles out in her songs, and Cate, an interior designer in a quarter-life crisis, Josephine meets her match in Ellie Howell-Routledge, the Cordon Bleu–trained daughter of a powerful Atlanta family who uses her deep pockets to push her way into partnership with the reluctant Josephine—never knowing that Josephine is harboring a secret that involves Ellie and her husband. On the way to becoming innovative businesswomen, they tangle with a health inspector, face financial ruin, unwittingly shock the sensibilities of delicate clients, worry about their children and bemoan lost loves. Most importantly, they bond, giving the girlfriends the opportunity to show off their feistiness and strength. Think: Steel Magnolias meets the Food Network. (July)
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About the Author

CHARLOTTE CONNORS likes cheese, church, and Dolly Parton.

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Broadway (July 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767926560
• ISBN-13: 978-0767926560
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.9 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #984,330 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Put a little south in yore mouth!, July 29, 2008

By 

Chick-Lit Fan - See all my reviews

This review is from: How Dolly Parton Saved My Life: A Novel of the Jelly Jar Sisterhood (Paperback)

Incredibly hilarious! this book is full of old southern charm and witty as can be without mocking southerners. i lived many of these episodes or similar ones anyway. In fact, it reminds me of many of my relatives! It's humerous with a little bit of romance thrown in. Go get 'em girl!!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fun, Southern-Style Read, July 29, 2008

By 

RB - See all my reviews

This review is from: How Dolly Parton Saved My Life: A Novel of the Jelly Jar Sisterhood (Paperback)

This was a very enjoyable book about four high-spirited women in the south who get together to create a catering company. While each of the women have very distinct personalities from each other, they were all very relatable and you get to know about their families, their relationship, and their lives. All of them make sacrifices to make the business work and it's fun to see the "rules" they come up with as a business model in order to do so. While there are some references to religion and church, none of it is over the top or preachy and the importance these women place on family is endearing and refreshing in this day and age. Overall, it's a fun read and you'll come away thinking you never knew Dolly Parton was so wise.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hard to be a diamond in a rhinestone world, October 5, 2008

By 

AJ Smith (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How Dolly Parton Saved My Life: A Novel of the Jelly Jar Sisterhood (Paperback)

I have yet to find anyone else who is as amazed as I am that there is a Dolly Parton song for my every heartache and triumph. No matter the situation, Dolly has been there already and wrote a song about it: new lust that might be love, humiliation by a lover, or beating back the blues. So, I adored the character who quotes Dolly likes she's Dali Lama.

Other than the Dolly-adoration, I'm not sure I can recommend this book to a non-Dollyite. It has a limited audience: southern christian women trying to balance work and family. Nevertheless, if you are in that boat, HDPSML is cheaper than therapy, wine or chocolate.